Haas skills push in Europe gathers pace

The machines will be supplied and supported by the company’s European headquarters in Zaventem, Brussels. Haas Automation already encourages and nurtures careers in precision engineering through its HTECs (Haas Technical Education Centres). As well as featuring Haas CNC machine tools, HTECs are also supported by some of the best-known names in precision tooling, CAM teaching software, CAD and workholding solutions. At EMO 2007, Haas Europe managing director Peter Hall announced the company’s goal of 200 HTECs in Europe within the next 5-7 years, each one conforming to the standards already established in more than 600 similar facilities in North America and Canada. The European HTEC program is on target to achieve its first-year goals with a total of nine official Haas CNC teaching facilities open to date, with another nine planned to open before the end of 2008, including Russia, Belarus, Sweden and Portugal. In 2009 the company will oversee at least another 30-35 HTECs in Europe – in several countries including Ukraine, Spain, Lithuania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and France - each of which will be founded and managed by local Haas distributors (known as Haas Factory Outlets – HFOs).